Disgraced MP Claudia Webbe’s boyfriend will give evidence for her as she tries to overturn conviction for threatening to throw acid over his female friend and reveal naked pictures of her
- Claudia Webbe, 56, could call her partner as a witness at her appeal hearing
- The disgraced MP was handed a 10-week jail term in November for harassment
- Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard Webbe threatened to throw acid at Michelle Merritt
- The court also heard Webbe had threatened to reveal naked pictures of Merritt
Disgraced MP Claudia Webbe’s partner could be called to give evidence for the first time as she tries to overturn her harassment conviction, a court has heard.
The 56-year-old was handed a 10-week jail term, suspended for two years, after she was found guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in November.
She was also ordered to pay £1,000 to Michelle Merritt, 59, in compensation by District Judge Paul Goldspring.
The court heard she threatened to throw acid at, and reveal naked pictures of, Ms Merritt, a friend of her boyfriend Lester Thomas.
Prosecutors said the former Labour MP for Leicester East, who now sits as an independent, harassed Ms Merritt because she was jealous of her friendship with Mr Thomas, a consultant at Crossrail, football coach, and scout for Chelsea.
Webbe made 16 calls to Ms Merritt, an ex of Webbe’s partner Lester Thomas.
Disgraced MP Claudia Webbe (left) could call her partner Lester Thomas (right) as a witness at her appeal as she tries to overturn her harassment conviction
He was not called as a witness at Webbe’s trial, where she claimed she was the victim of ‘domestic abuse and coercive control’.
She told the court she was ‘goaded and gaslighted’ during a row, which resulted in police being called after a neighbour reported her screams.
But the couple arrived holding hands to court, where he sat in the public gallery throughout the trial.
A review hearing on Friday ahead of an appeal against Webbe’s conviction and sentence on March 9 heard Mr Thomas may be called as a witness, with body-worn camera footage from the officers who responded to the incident expected to be played if he is.
Prosecutor Susannah Stevens today said the Crown is ‘ready’ for the appeal, which is expected to last two or three days at Southwark Crown Court.
She added: ‘At the magistrates’ court, the defence did not call any defence witnesses.
‘It may be that they will call Ms Webbe’s partner Mr Thomas.
‘If that is the case, in my submission it is likely to be three days.
Webbe, 56, (pictured with Thomas) was handed a 10-week jail term, suspended for two years, after she was found guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in November
‘There is body-worn video and a number of recordings that relate to Mr Thomas, which were not used at the magistrates’ court for the obvious reason he was not a witness.
‘But if he is going to be called there is a likelihood we will play the recordings in cross-examination.’
Webbe, who is now represented by Helen Law, was also criticised by Judge Deborah Taylor for failing to comply with court orders, which were supposed to be responded to by November 30.
The judge said: ‘I require an explanation of why the orders of the court have not been complied with.’
Webbe, who spoke for the first time in the House of Commons this week since she was handed a suspended jail term, has previously been warned her sentence could be increased following the appeal.
Labour has said the party will push for a recall petition to force a by-election if Webbe does not quit the Commons, but it will have to wait until the outcome of her appeal.
Webbe was not required to be present in court for Friday’s hearing, where the lawyers appeared by video-link.
Source: Read Full Article
